Sunday, January 6, 2013

New Year...New Trial

Since my last blog, a lot has happened. I have had a PET scan and another CT scan. My tumors show stability and cell death. This is good news, but not the best news. We (including all of my doctors) are looking for overall shrinkage as well. Yervoy, which has been approved for skin cancer patients, is now a trial drug for ocular melanoma patients like me. The side effects are different and the protocol is a bit different, but the drug is working in other OM patients so we are all very optimistic that this will finish off the tumors and put me into "No Evidence of Disease" (NED) status. At that time, I'll be able to take a break from treatment. I will start the trial by the end of January and go through 4 infusions over 12 weeks, then take a break, get scanned, and see where we are at that point. This drug takes much longer to show whether or not its working...so patience, here I come! I will still get blood work and scans done in Austin, but go to Houston for my infusions. Dr. Patel says that I'm perfect for this trial and that my blood work looks better than ever.

Food and juicing. Working on this one. I am a work in progress. I have slipped over the holidays and had more sugar than I need, but getting back on the wagon this week. Overall, I know that I feel as good as I do, because I'm eating better and have lost 28 pounds over the past year. Juicing will put me over the top.

I am meditating daily and working to create space in my daily life for writing again. Walking the dogs is not exactly a hard work out, but it does give me fresh air and a pep to my step (and theirs :-), positive thinking, and no negative television has helped my sleeping patterns.

On another note, I haven't blogged because it has been a busy holiday season. It was good, not relaxing exactly, but good times with family and friends. Some closet cleaning as well!

Just one more week before classes begin. My youngest step son, Jason is coming on Tuesday. John and I are excited about spending time with him. Josh the older son isn't able to come because he got a new job! That's the best reason. We are proud of them both.